Poofs Favorite Things: 2013 Edition

Another year has gone by and wow, what a…strange year it has been. There were ups, and yes there were downs but overall this will be a year that I will never forget.

 

And after 2013, I don’t think pop culture will ever be the same again. What with Justin Bieber becoming one of Americas most hated teen stars to seeing basically everyone in the world make “Harlem Shake” videos. But through all of the poorly handled scandals and misconceptions that happened in 2013, there were some really great moments. Movies were bigger, music was better, and Kanye West said less things to embarrass himself and his selfless wife Kim Kardashian. Here are some of my personal favorites from 2013:

 

Favorite TV Shows:

 

Hannibal

 

Seeing as I am a Tumblr addict, it was only a matter of time before I watched Hannibal. I watched the show’s first, and only season over the summer and instantly hungered for more. Hannibal centers around the budding relationship between Will Graham, a FBI special investigator and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

 

Spoiler alert: Hannibal’s a cannibal. WOAH.

 

Much to NBC’s surprise, critics loved Hannibal as much as the shows cult like fan base. Hannibal was renewed for a second season which will premiere on February 28, 2014.

 

Orange is the New Black

 

If Netflix wasn’t already my soul mate, they sure proved it with this winner. Orange is the New Black centers around Piper Chapman, a woman who is sentenced to 15 months in a women’s federal prison after authorities found out that she transported a suitcase full of drug money to her ex girlfriend. However she committed this crime, 10 years ago. Before her sentence began she had been living a quiet lifestyle in the upper middle class in New York City.

perf

Fortunately this innovative dark comedy does not center around Chapman, in fact she will hardly be in the the next season. Orange is the New Black has one of the best ensemble casts since the early days of the Office in my opinion. In one season you are exposed to so many riveting back stories and character developments that you will find yourself counting down for the second season that is scheduled to air sometime in 2014. I highly recommend giving this show a chance.

 

Favorite Albums:

 

Lorde “Pure Heroine”

 

I have been listening to Lorde since she released her first EP in late 2012, and needless to say I had high hopes when I heard she was releasing a full length album in 2013.

 

And my expectations were reached.

 

Lorde didn’t change her style of songwriting from The Love Club to Pure Heroine which is rare for modern artists today. Her combination of surprisingly mature vocals and sobering lyrics is refreshing. The non-conforming alternative artist is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with as Pure Heroine is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys in 2014.

 

My personal favorite songs on the album are “White Teeth Teens” and “Tennis Court”.

 

The Front Bottoms “Talon of The Hawk”

 

This is the Front Bottoms fourth studio album, and their best yet in my opinion. There is something about the album that stands out. Actually I am listening to it right now as I type this abridged review. When I listen to this album I am feeling everything all at once. I’m content, happy, lonely, sad, and most of all I’m comforted.

 

If you like albums with lyrical wit and an alternative sound, you will at the bare minimum like this album. My favorite songs on the album include: “Twin Sized Mattress”, “Au Revoir”, and “Skeleton”.

 

Miley Cyrus “Bangerz”

 

Ok hear me out. I used to HATE Miley Cyrus back in her Hannah Montana days. I thought she was just another untalented Disney starlet who was crafted into being not only the star of one of their sitcoms, but also a budding pop star with a squeaky clean image.

 

But boy did Miley Cyrus send her wrecking ball straight through my heart in 2013

SwEeT nIbLeTz

Everything she did was hilarious, fierce, and flawless. From her trademark haircut to her infamous award show performances. On top of all of her shenanigans, she also managed to produce Bangerz, her fourth studio album. The album included her hit singles “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball”. But what made the album stand out was her incredible musical range. My favorite songs on the album had to be “#GETITRIGHT” and “Adore You”.

 

Favorite Movies:

 

Monsters University

 

I’ve grown a little bit skeptical of Pixar sequels ever since I saw the monstrosity that was Cars 2, but fortunately Monsters University had the charm and wit that Pixar does best. What made this movie work in my opinion, is that the audience gets to see how the Mike and Sully become the loveable monsters that we welcomed into our families a decade ago. Also, Monsters University showcases a lot of new characters and personalities that the audience can find solace in.

 

Insidious 2

 

This was the best horror movie produced in 2013 by far, because quite frankly it had a storyline that wasn’t totally predictable. Do you have to see the first one? No. No you don’t.

 

So there are a few of my favorite things from 2013! I’m going to have another post in a few weeks about the end of 2013, I think it will be worth the wait.

 

What were some of your favorite things that 2013 brought you?

 

See you guys…..NEXT YEAR. HA. HAHA. ha.

-Poof

Christmas is Gross

Question: Can people change?

 

Answer: Yes.

 

Tomorrow is going to be my eighteenth Christmas on this planet and something that I have noticed about Christmas is that every year I celebrate it, I hate it a little bit more. Typically, over time I start to just feel indifferent about holidays, but that’s not the case with Christmas because, for some reason a genuine animosity continues to boil deep inside of me until my favorite holiday: Boxing day.

As a kid I used to love Christmas. To be honest, what kid doesn’t? There are presents with shiny paper everywhere, sweets that filled your dentists wallets, and a certain naive spirit that is truly inspirational. Christmas has become extremely correlated with innocence. It seems that the less you know about the world, the more you will love Christmas in every aspect. I’m not just being a cynic here, aging makes people change their views on Christmas.

 

Presents:

 

As viewed by a kid: “OMG A NEW BARBIE?? AND AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL??? AND FOUR DIFFERENT OUTFITS FOR BOTH OF THEM??? THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER. I LOVE CHRISTMAS.”

 

As viewed by a college student: “seeing as I am already thousands of dollars in debt, I guess I’m going to have to give my friends and family the same present I gave them last year, my presence.”

 

As viewed by an adult: “Ok. Ok we got to stay practical this year and not go over budget.” *gets credit card bill* “bah humbug”

 

Food:

 

As viewed by a kid: “OMG COOKIES?? GINGERBREAD HOUSES?? DAD DO I REALLY GET TO LICK THE SPOON. BEST DAY EVER. I LOVE CHRISTMAS.”

 

As viewed by a college student: “real food is cool, but i’m really worried about gaining the freshman 15 so i can only have one cookie.”

 

As viewed by an adult: “I have to cook HOW much food??” *gets credit card bill* “bah humbug”

 

Time of the Year:

 

As viewed by a kid: “OMG SNNOOOOOoOoOOooOoooOooOOoOOOOoOoOWWwwWwwwWWwwWWWWWW!!!!!!! HOW MAGICAL! BEST MONTH EVER. I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

 

As viewed by a college student: “HOW MANY FINALS DO I HAVE??? HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE DUE??? GRADES??????”

 

As viewed by an adult: “HOW. MANY. DEADLINES. BAH HUMBUG.”

 

Money:

 

As viewed by a kid: “SANTA MAKES THE PRESENTS YOU DON’T NEED MONEY. I LOVE CHRISTMAS.”

 

As viewed by a college student: “lol what money.”

 

As viewed by an adult: *whips tears with last dollar bill as she pays her credit card bill* “oh neat a christmas bonus. neat.”

 

Family Gatherings:

 

As viewed by a kid: “I GET TO SEE ALL OF MY COUSINS. YAAAAA. BEST DAY EVER. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!”

 

As viewed by a college student: “i swear if anyone asks me about school/friends/my non existent boyfriend i will break out in hives.”

 

As viewed by an adult: “As long as I keep smile it will seem like everything is fine and nothing will hurt and these people will get out of my house.”

 

This brings me back to my original question: Can people change? By using Christmas we can see that it’s impossible to compare peoples views from when they are eight, to when they are eighteen, to when they are twenty-eight. An eight-year-old is going to view things differently than an adult. It’s obvious. So why can’t someone change year after year?

 

However, I do know some adults who still see Christmas as innocently as a child. And I can easily say that I am very jealous and inspired by these people. Even if they come off as a little off and typically see me as a Grinch.

 

Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone and an even Merrier Boxing Day.

 

#poofproblems

-Poof

Promoting Passions: Poetic Rhymes

Before I went to college, I was told that one of the most important things I would be exposed to was: networking. All of my teachers, coaches, and advisors told me that networking was key to having a successful future in your career. And for the most part, people make networking pretty easy at college. There are clubs for almost any major, internships and jobs available to students, and professors who have had experience working in your desired field.

 

But what are you supposed to do if you want to network and put your own work out there if it’s not in your field? If you are an artist that’s going into engineering, or a writer that’s going into teaching, how do you promote your own work? It seems like the hardest part is finding somewhere to start.

 

And we are starting here.

 

During the beginning of the school year I made a new friend, and we are both in the college of design. He is working on becoming an architect, but at the same time has released a collaborative mixtape under the name John Doe with his musical partner Phresh Prince. The mixtape is called Poetic Rhymes and helps tell the artists stories through poetry and hip-hop about their African roots as they live in Dallas, Texas. Recently I asked “John Doe” some questions about the Poetic Rhymes:

1) Though it is a basic question I feel like I should ask, why music?

 

Music transcends through all. Music is such a powerful source of information and culture. I love music because music will always be here. Things come and go but music is one thing that is forever inexhaustible. There is not a single person I’ve met that does not like music. Most importantly music has the ability to change and convey so many emotions, it’s a wonderful thing.

 

2) What artists have inspired your music?

 

Artists such as Andre 3000 & Outkast, Kanye West, Florence & The Machine, Of Monsters and Men, 2Pac, Bob Marley, Kid Cudi. I could literally go on for hours.

 

3) Would you consider making music as a career?

 

I would definitely consider making music as a career. It brings people such happiness, and I feel as if musicians are the voice of the people.

 

4) What is your favorite track off of Poetic Rhymes and why?

 

I have several favorite tracks from “Poetic Rhymes” but if I had to choose one it would be the final track, “Running Wild”. I like Running wild because it was the first time me and my compadre Phresh Prince really dedicated a whole song on our African roots. We really wanted to tell a story of our hardships and our hopes and dreams from young African teens’ perspectives.  

 

My personal favorite track is “Walking on the Moon”, but overall the album is worth a listen. The intros of these songs are all different then anything that is currently being produced in modern music, and that’s what sets Poetic Rhymes apart. The lyrics are genuine and tell their story elegantly while still being catchy. If you want to listen to Poetic Rhymes yourself, here is a link to the mixtape with a free download option

 

Want your passion to be promoted on Heypoofy.wordpress.com? Contact me on twitter or email me at: heypoofy@yahoo.com

 

#poofproblems

-Poof